A Gainsborough man accused of attempting to murder his former girlfriend has told a jury she was often violent towards him.Paul Henry, 46, claimed mother-of-three Claire Boswell pulled his ears when she discovered he had been texting another woman called "Emma."Henry said the incident happened just a few days before he is alleged to have stabbed Miss Boswell, 44, in the chest at her home in Glentham Road, Gainsborough.On other occasions Henry claimed Miss Boswell sprayed his favorite boots silver, cut the arms off four of his shirts and twice smashed the windows of his then home in Middlefield Lane, Gainsborough."She slapped me, pushed me, threw things at me," Henry told a jury at Lincoln Crown Court.Henry claimed he was injured on another occasion when he visited Miss Boswell's home in 2008."I asked for my clothes through the letterbox but a knife came through and stabbed me in the chin," Henry alleged.Henry said Miss Boswell later told police that he had cut himself shaving.On September 15 last year, Henry accepts Miss Boswell was injured by a knife which was in his hand at the time.But giving evidence Henry, formerly of Lea Place, Gainsborough, insisted he did not mean to stab Miss Boswell in the chest on purpose.It is alleged Henry left Miss Boswell with a life threatening injury to her liver when he stabbed her just hours after being spared jail for harassing her.Henry has admitted going to Miss Boswell's home on the same day he received a suspended sentence for breaking a restraining order which prevented him from contacting her.He denies attempting to murder Miss Boswell and an alternative charge of wounding her with intent.The trial continues on Monday when the jury will retire to consider their verdicts.